AQHA membership will be automatically suspended for a minimum of __ yrs upon proven cruelty or inhumane treatment cases.

• A. 1 year
• B. 3 years
• C. 2 years
• D. 4 years

Answer: (C)

Two years is the minimum automatic suspension for proven cruelty or inhumane treatment. The rule uses a floor to ensure a clear, consistent penalty across cases: once cruelty is established, the member is suspended from AQHA membership for at least two years. The "automatic" aspect means the clock starts as soon as the finding is made, without requiring a separate decision to set the duration. The actual suspension can be extended beyond two years if the board determines the circumstances warrant a longer penalty, but nothing shorter than two years is allowed as the base. This structure signals that cruelty toward a horse is taken very seriously and protects the integrity of the organization and welfare of the animals involved.